Escape machine

ABSTRACT

An escape device for rescuing persons or articles from multistoried buildings, especially in cases of emergency such as fire, which includes a rotatable drum around which rope (with a hanger or bag at one end) is wound, and one or more governors, preferably two, one of which works only when the rope is being released, so as to enable a safe descent of the person or article secured to the hanger or bag and a rapid ascent of the rope when it is rewound on the drum. Preferably, the escape device includes locking means; braking means; and a plurality of strings, one attached to each of said means, which serve to actuate the device or its governors.

United States Patent 1191 Simizu 1451 Nov. 26, 1974 ESCAPE MACHINE 1,490,524 4 1924 Wood 182/73 [76] Inventor: Sigeiti Simizu, 26-14, 6-chome Yutakacho Shinagawaku, Tokyo, Primary Examiner Reinaldo P. Machado Japan Attorney, Agent, or Firm Frank J. Jordan [22] Filed: Apr. 4, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.1 347,708

An escape device for rescuing persons or articles from multi-storied buildings, especially in cases of emer- [52] U.S. Cl 182/3, 182/72, gency uch as fire, which includes a rotatable drum 1 /73, 254/153, 254/157 around which rope (with a hanger or bag at one end) ll."-

is wound and mg of m g guvcrnu s preferably w 1 1 Fleld Search 182/3, one of which works only when the rope is being re- 153 leased, so as to enable a safe descent of the person or article secured to the hanger or bag and a rapid ascent References Cited of the rope when it is rewound on the drum. Prefera- UNITED STATES PATENTS bly, the escape device includes locking means; braking 215,713 5/1879 Ball 254 157 means; and a plurality of Strings, one attached to 68011 239318 1 H1383 Smith I h v n 182/71 of said means, which serve to actuate the device or its 660,792 /1900 Gail 1 254/157 govern rs. 787,394 4/1905 Peters 254/157 1,308,480 7 1919 Caquette 254 157 7 Clam, Dl'awlng Figures 2 I 2 1 e z l9 1 Q) 2 7e 77 7 11111 11 11111 3 4 35 27a 27 5 24 ,3? I i, ..::;f l

4 4 I .L 532" 22 6 l i 5 3b I l l F 5 10 L A f PATENTE usvz s 1974 SHEEI 16? Q PATENIEL NSV 2 5 I974 SHEET 2 BF 4 SHEH 3 (if Q PATENTEL NOV 2 6 I974 ESCAPE MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an escape device for rescuing persons or articles from multi-storied buildings, especially in cases of emergency such as a fire.

2. Description of the Prior Art I-Ieretofore, in order to rescue persons or articles from multi-storied buildings, helicopters or long cloth tubes have been used. However, helicopters are not suitable, especially for children, or the old and infirm, who are not strong enough to grasp or hold onto the rope or ladder hung from the helicopter. Similarly, the long cloth tube is not safe, especially for use with high buildings, because the force of gravity makes the speed of the person in the tube higher and higher and the concomitant friction causes high temperature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an escape device having two types of governors so that in the event one of them fails to work properly, the device will nevertheless operate safely and satisfactorily. More particularly, this invention relates to an escape device having two types of governors and a rope continuously wound around a drum, thereby enabling easy release of the rope, one of the governors working only when the rope is being released, whereby, as a consequence, either the persons or articles rescued descend at a safe rate of speed, or the rope ascends speedily. As a consequence, this invention provides an escape device which enables smooth governor functioning whenever the rope is wound or unwound.

Specifically, the present invention provides an escape device to rescue persons or articles from a multi-storied building, comprising a frame; a belt; a receptacle adapted to be secured'to one end of the belt for holding the person or article to be rescued; a drum rotatably mounted on the frame and having the belt about its periphery, said belt being capable of being wound on or unwound from said drum; drive means attached to the drum for rotating said drum; and control means mounted on the frame and operatively connected to the drive means forregulating the rate of speed at which the belt can be wound or unwound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,

FIG. 1 represents a front view of an escape device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 represents a top view of this device;

FIG. 3 represents a fragmentary view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 represents a fragmentary side view, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing some of the gears in combination;

FIG. 5 represents a fragmentary view of FIG. 4 from the opposite side, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 represents a transmission gear assembly which transmits the rotation of the drum to one of the governors only when the drum rotates in one direction;

FIG. 7 represents an internal view of the transmission gear assembly shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 represents a fragmentary side view of a transversely extending rope and a speed control assembly for controlling the speed of winding or unwinding of the rope, taken along line 88 of FIG. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 represents a fragmentary side view of the assembly shown in FIG. 8 from another direction, taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGS. 10 and 11 represent a top and a side view, respectively, of the assembly shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 represents a fragmentary side view of the assembly shown in FIG. 8, showing the coupling of a transversely extending shaft and a bearing means, taken along line 12-l2 of FIG. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 13 represents a hanger connected to the rope; and

FIGS. 14 and 15 represent how to use a hanger or bag of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring generally to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5, a main shaft 6 has mounted thereon, from right to left, driving gears 5 and 4, a braking wheel 3, a drum 2 for winding a rope I and a driving gear 33. The shaft 6 is rotatably and freely supported by frames 7 and 8 on both longitudinal ends. A transversely extending shaft 9 supported freely by frames 7 and 8 has a driving gear 11 which is connected to the driving gear 4 through an intermediate gear 10. A guiding rod 12 is supported by frames 7 and 13.

The shaft 16 of the governor 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2), supported freely by frames 17 and 8, has a driving gear 15 on one end which is connected to the driving gear 5 through the intermediate gears 18 and 19.

Theframes 7, 8, 13, and 17 are all mounted on a side plate 21 of a box 20.

One end of the braking band 22 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) is connected to the side plate 21 and the other end of it is connected to one end of a braking lever 27 via a pulley 28 on a support 29. The other end of the braking lever 27 is connected to the sliding element 26 (FIG. 2) on the pulley of the governor l4, and the middle point of the lever 27 is mounted on the side plate 21 as indicated at 27a.

Furthermore, one end of the braking lever 27 is connected to one end of the rotating lever 24 by a string 30, the other end of the rotating lever 24 being connected to a string 23.

Spring box 37 containing spring 36 is mounted on frame 38 (FIG. 2), one end of spring 36 being attached to the shaft 35. The shaft is connected to the gear 33 through intermediate gears 77, 78, and 34.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the transmission gear assembly has a shaft wheel 60. The ratchet 63 mounted on the wheel through a shaft is directed outwardly by a spring 64 hooked on a stopper 62 of the ratchet 63 and a pin on the wheel 60.

Furthermore, the outer part of the assembly has slots 66 which are caught by ratchet 63 only when the drum 2 rotates counterclockwise, thereby enabling the governor 14 to rotate in that case.

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 12, the rope I wound, at one end, around the drum 2 passes through a tubular opening 39 of a box 43, then once or twice around a guide wheel 44, and then out through another tubular opening 40, and finally to a hanger 45 (FIG. 13) to which it is connected at its other end. The shaft of the guide wheel 44 is connected to the governor 41.

The wheel 46 (FIGS. 9 and 11), a shaft 48 and 49 of which is braked by slide metals 50 and 51 (FIG. 11), push rods 52 and 53 (FIG. 11) and a spring 54 (FIG. 11) screwed to the box 43 by a screw 55 (FIG. 9), is pushed to the rope 1 around the wheel 44. The box 43 (FIG. 11) has a bearing means 56 through which a transversely extending shaft 9 passes and a sliding means 47 through which a guide rod 12 passes.

Referring to FIG. 12, the end 31 of the screw 57 mounted on the bearing means 56 is connected to a slide metal 59 which is put into a guide slot 58.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the end plate 69, which has a locking means 68 and 71 (FIG. 1), opens downwardly when a string 70 connected to the locking means 71, is pulled. The box has covers 73 and 72.

Referring to FIG. 14, the escape device of this invention is installed on the ceiling near the window.

For the operation of this device, first the string 70 is pulled to unlock the locking means 68 and 71 so that the end plate 69 (FIG. 5) opens downwardly and the hanger 45 comes down. Then a person rides on the hanger 45, by hooking a loop to a hooking means 75 and becoming secured to the hanger, and escapes out of the window as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Instead of the hanger 45, a bag 79 can be used, as shown in FIG. 15. While making preparation for the escape, the string 23 should be pulled so that: (l) the lever 24 rotates, (2) the string 30 is pulled, (3) the braking band 22 is also pulled, (4) the braking wheel 3 and the drum 2 are braked, and (5) the rope I will not be released.

Next, the string 23 is restored to its original position so that the braking force is removed from the braking wheel and the drum, thereby releasing the rope.

While the rope I is being released and the person is coming down to the ground, the device works as follows:

A. As the drum 2 rotates in such direction that the ratchet 63 of the shaft wheel 60 becomes locked within the slots 66 of the transmission gear assembly (see FIG. 7), the governor 14 rotates through intermediate gears 18 and 19 as the radius of the weights 76 of governor 14 increase with the rate of descent and moment of the descending person or article such that as the descent comes to an end, (I) the braking lever 27 moves, (2) the string 30 is pulled, (3) the braking band 22 is fastened and (4) the drum 2 is then braked. This then is an example of one means and method for regulating the rate of speed with which the rope I can be wound or unwound.

B. Another type of speed regulation for controlling the rate at which rope I can be wound or unwound is as follows:

As the rope 1 moves, the guide wheel 44 rotates, enabling the governor 41 to function, thereby causing the guide wheel 44 to be braked.

C. As the result of these two types of speed regulation relative to the unwinding of the rope I, the person secured to the hanger or bag is enabled to descend at a suitable, controlled rate of speed.

D. In order to facilitate further the operation described in (A) to (C) above, the following is effected:

Upon the rotation of the drum 2, the spring 36 is wound up by intermediate gears 33, 77, and 78.

E. The rotation of the drum 2 is transmitted to the transversely extending shaft 9 by the intermediate gear 10 and the driving gear 11 so that the slide metal 59 is moved transversely along a guide slot 58, then the box 43 and the sliding means 47 move in accordance with whether or not the rope I is released. This function assists in the easy release of the rope I.

F. When the person reaches the ground, he disengages himself from the hanger or bag.

After the load or strain is removed from the rope, owing to withdrawal of the rescued person or article from the hanger or bag, the drum 2 is caused to rotate by virtue of the driving force of the spring 36 and in such direction that the rope which has been released is rewound on the drum 2. While the rope I is being rewound on the drum 2, the device operates as follows:

G. The drum 2 rotates in such direction that the ratchet 63 of the shaft 60 becomes disengaged from the slot 66, whereby the governor 14 does not rotate and hence is unable to provide speed control relative to the winding or unwinding of the rope 1, thereby enabling the rope to be rewound rapidly on the drum 2.

H. However, even in the operation as described in (G), the guide wheel 44 rotates and the governor 41 functions in the same way it did when the hanger 45 was descending. Thus, this is exemplary of a type of speed control that can be imposed on the rate of re winding of rope I as well as upon its unwinding; accordingly, the rope 1 can be wound up rapidly and at a controlled rate of speed.

I. In a similar manner, as described in (D) above, the rotation of the drum 2 is transmitted to the shaft 9, and the slide metal 59 moves transversely along a guide slot 58, whereupon the box 43 and the sliding means 47 move so that the rope can be rewound on the drum 2 in good order from one end to the other end. This function therefore facilitates rewinding of the rope I.

When the rope I is rewound on the drum to its end, the hanger comes up to the original position; then, the next person can escape in the same manner as heretofore described.

It will be understood that the foregoing description is also readily applicable to the use of a bag with which to effect the escape and rescue of persons and articles.

It will also be understood that the above description is merely illustrative of preferred embodiments and specific examples of the present invention, and that, in all of which embodiments and examples, variations, such as, e.g., those previously described, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and purview thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An escape device to rescue persons or articles from a multistoried building, comprising a frame; a belt; a receptacle adapted to be secured to one end of the belt for holding the person or article to be rescued", a drum rotatably mounted on the frame and having the belt about its outer periphery, said belt being capable of being wound on or unwound from said drum; drive means attached to the drum for rotating said drum; control means mounted on the frame and including at least one governor operatively connected to the drive means for regulating the rate at which the belt can be wound or unwound; a transmission assembly for transmitting motive force from the drum to the governor, thereby to rotate said governor, only when the drum rotates in a direction for unwinding the belt, said transmission assembly having locking means therein operable only when the drum operates in said direction; a braking assembly mounted on the frame and operatively connected to the governor and to the drive means; and means attached to the braking assembly for actuating the latter; said braking assembly comprising a braking wheel cooperable with the driving means and adapted to brake the drum, a first lever means attached to the frame and operatively connected to the governor, a second lever means attached to said means for actuating the braking assembly, and connecting means for joining the first and second lever means and for joining the first lever means to said frame.

2. An escape device to rescue persons or articles from a multistoried building, comprising a frame; a belt; a receptacle adapted to be secured to one end of the belt for holding the person or article to be rescued; a drum rotatably mounted on the frame and having the belt about its outer periphery, said belt being capable of being wound on or unwound from said drum; drive means attached to the drum for rotating said drum; control means mounted on the frame and including at least one governor operatively connected to the drive means for regulating the rate at which the belt can be wound or unwound; a transmission assembly for transmitting motive force from the drum to the governor, thereby to rotate said governor, only when the drum rotates in a direction for unwinding the belt, said transmission assembly having locking means therein operable only when the drum operates in said direction; a first governor operatively connected to the drive means and cooperable with the transmission assembly, a second governor, a box, a guide wheel attached to the box and adapted to receive the belt, a braking means for braking the belt against the guide wheel, said second governor being operatively connected to the guide wheel for regulating the rate of speed at which the belt can be wound or unwound; a braking assembly mounted on the frame and operatively connected to the first governor and to the drive means; and means attached to the braking assembly for actuating said braking assembly; said braking assembly comprising a braking wheel cooperable with the driving means and adapted to brake the drum, a first lever means attached to the frame and operatively connected to the governor, a second lever means attached to said means for actuating the braking assembly, and connecting means for joining the first and second lever means and for joining the first lever means to said frame.

3. An escape device to rescue persons or articles from a multistoried building, comprising a frame; a belt; a receptacle adapted to be secured to one end of the belt for holding the person or article to be rescued; a drum rotatably mounted on the frame and having the belt about its outer periphery, said belt being capable of being wound on or unwound from said drum; drive means attached to the drum for rotating said drum;

control means mounted on the frame and operatively connected to the drive means for regulating the rate at which the belt can be wound or unwound; said control means including a governor operatively connected to said drive means, a braking wheel cooperable with the driving means and operable to brake said drum, a first lever means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said governor, a second lever means mounted on said frame and operable to be manually actuated, and connecting means for joining said first and second lever means whereby said first and second lever means are each actuable to effect braking of said drum.

4. An escape device according to claim 1, including a transmission assembly for transmitting notive force from the drum to the governor, thereby to rotate said governor, only when the drum rotates in a direction for unwinding the belt, said transmission assembly having locking means therein operable only when the drum operates in said direction.

5. An escape device according to claim 2, comprising a first governor operatively connected to the drive means and cooperable with the transmission assembly, a second governor, a box, a guide wheel attached to the box and adapted to receive the belt, and a braking means for braking the belt against the guide wheel, said second governor being operatively connected to the guide wheel for regulating the rate of speed at which the belt can be wound or unwound.

6. An escape device according to claim 5, comprising a support mounted on the frame; and a spring means attached to the support and operatively connected to the drive means for rotating the drum.

7. An escape device according to claim 5, further comprising a bearing means mounted on the box, a shaft supported by the bearing means and having transverse slots continuously extending therein, means mounted in the bearing means and adapted to be received in slots for sliding movement therein coordinated with movement of the belt around the guide 

1. An escape device to rescue persons or articles from a multistoried building, comprising a frame; a belt; a receptacle adapted to be secured to one end of the belt for holding the person or article to be rescued; a drum rotatably mounted on the frame and having the belt about its outer periphery, said belt being capable of being wound on or unwound from said drum; drive means attached to the drum for rotating said drum; control means mounted on the frame and including at least one governor operatively connected to the drive means for regulating the rate at which the belt can be wound or unwound; a transmission assembly for transmitting motive force from the drum to the governor, thereby to rotate said governor, only when the drum rotates in a direction for unwinding the belt, said transmission assembly having locking means therein operable only when the drum operates in said direction; a braking assembly mounted on the frame and operatively connected to the governor and to the drive means; and means attached to the braking assembly for actuating the latter; said braking assembly comprising a braking wheel cooperable with the driving means and adapted to brake the drum, a first lever means attached to the frame and operatively connected to the governor, a second lever means attached to said means for actuating the braking assembly, and connecting means for joining the first and second lever means and for joining the first lever means to said frame.
 2. An escape device to rescue persons or articles from a multistoried building, comprising a frame; a belt; a receptacle adapted to be secured to one end of the belt for holding the person or article to be rescued; a drum rotatably mounted on the frame and having the belt about its outer periphery, said belt being capable of being wound on or unwound from said drum; drive means attached to the drum for rotating said drum; control means mounted on the frame and including at least one governor operatively connected to the drive means for regulating the rate at which the belt can be wound or unwound; a transmission assembly for transmitting motive force from the drum to the governor, thereby to rotate said governor, only when the drum rotates in a direction for unwinding the belt, said transmission assembly having locking means therein operable only when the drum operates in said direction; a first governor operativelY connected to the drive means and cooperable with the transmission assembly, a second governor, a box, a guide wheel attached to the box and adapted to receive the belt, a braking means for braking the belt against the guide wheel, said second governor being operatively connected to the guide wheel for regulating the rate of speed at which the belt can be wound or unwound; a braking assembly mounted on the frame and operatively connected to the first governor and to the drive means; and means attached to the braking assembly for actuating said braking assembly; said braking assembly comprising a braking wheel cooperable with the driving means and adapted to brake the drum, a first lever means attached to the frame and operatively connected to the governor, a second lever means attached to said means for actuating the braking assembly, and connecting means for joining the first and second lever means and for joining the first lever means to said frame.
 3. An escape device to rescue persons or articles from a multistoried building, comprising a frame; a belt; a receptacle adapted to be secured to one end of the belt for holding the person or article to be rescued; a drum rotatably mounted on the frame and having the belt about its outer periphery, said belt being capable of being wound on or unwound from said drum; drive means attached to the drum for rotating said drum; control means mounted on the frame and operatively connected to the drive means for regulating the rate at which the belt can be wound or unwound; said control means including a governor operatively connected to said drive means, a braking wheel cooperable with the driving means and operable to brake said drum, a first lever means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said governor, a second lever means mounted on said frame and operable to be manually actuated, and connecting means for joining said first and second lever means whereby said first and second lever means are each actuable to effect braking of said drum.
 4. An escape device according to claim 1, including a transmission assembly for transmitting notive force from the drum to the governor, thereby to rotate said governor, only when the drum rotates in a direction for unwinding the belt, said transmission assembly having locking means therein operable only when the drum operates in said direction.
 5. An escape device according to claim 2, comprising a first governor operatively connected to the drive means and cooperable with the transmission assembly, a second governor, a box, a guide wheel attached to the box and adapted to receive the belt, and a braking means for braking the belt against the guide wheel, said second governor being operatively connected to the guide wheel for regulating the rate of speed at which the belt can be wound or unwound.
 6. An escape device according to claim 5, comprising a support mounted on the frame; and a spring means attached to the support and operatively connected to the drive means for rotating the drum.
 7. An escape device according to claim 5, further comprising a bearing means mounted on the box, a shaft supported by the bearing means and having transverse slots continuously extending therein, means mounted in the bearing means and adapted to be received in slots for sliding movement therein coordinated with movement of the belt around the guide wheel. 